Waltham’s Reagle Music Theatre celebrates its 50th season

Thursday

Bob Eagle has seen a lot in his more than 50 years directing and producing theater in Waltham, but one early memory still sticks with him.

“The year I did my first musical, “Carousel,” we were at the John F. Kennedy Middle School. There were no rigorous auditions. Whoever showed up was cast,” recalled Eagle by telephone recently.

Even some who were not cast sometimes ended up behind the footlights.

“It was summer and the school wasn’t air-conditioned yet so we propped open a backstage door. In the middle of the act-two opener, ‘There Was a Real Nice Clambake,’ a dog wandered onstage. Apparently, he didn’t suffer from stage fright either because it took a lot of time and maneuvering to get him off,” says Eagle with a laugh.

Originally established as Waltham Summer Theatre, with a grant from the Waltham City Council, the company became known as Reagle Players in its second season.

“We moved into the Robinson Theatre when the new high school opened in 1970. That first summer, we did three shows in repertory – ‘Wizard of Oz,’ ‘Our Town,’ and ‘Oklahoma!’

One of our alums, Daphne Lowell, worked on all three shows and played the Wicked Witch of the West in the ‘Wizard of Oz.’ I’ve never seen anyone melt as well as Daphne did,” says Eagle.

In the years since, Reagle has grown from a small community theater to an award-winning professional company staging classic musicals, original revues, and live concerts featuring Hollywood stars such as Mitzi Gaynor, Robert Goulet, Shirley Jones, Ann-Margret, and Debbie Reynolds, and Broadway legends like Tommy Tune and Patti LuPone.

The company – now known as Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston – is celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer. This spring, Reagle was honored with special recognition at the IRNE Awards by the Independent Reviewers of New England, and at the Elliot Norton Awards by the Boston Theater Critics Association.

Originally a teacher, Eagle later served as the first director of English and Drama for Waltham Public Schools. It was a student, in fact, who came up with the name for Eagle’s theater company from the way he signed his papers, R. Eagle. He retired in 2000 after 44 years with the school system, but continues as Reagle’s executive director.

Reagle – which, over the years, has contributed over $1 million in capital improvements to Waltham High School – earned its Equity contract in 1984, and has since attracted stage and television stars including John Davidson, Lorenzo Lamas, Sally Struthers, and Rachel York to star in its musicals.

York – who appears in the new Broadway musical “Head Over Heels,” set to open July 26 at New York’s Hudson Theatre – has appeared in “Into the Woods,” “Hello, Dolly!” and “42nd Street,” as well as the concert “Isn’t It Romantic” with Brent Barrett, at Reagle. The in-demand performer doesn’t hesitate when explaining what keeps her coming back to Waltham.

“In addition to getting the opportunity to play great roles that I might not otherwise have the chance to play on Broadway, the summer-theater experience is pure adrenalin. The condensed schedule, plus the spirit and excitement of the young company members, brings an intense focus and energy that is thrilling.

“It’s like being shot out of a cannon, and the audience rides along with you. And working with the young and talented kids in these productions reminds me of when I first fell in love with the craft of acting. As a result, it refreshes my own passion and joy for performing,” explained the actress and singer from New York recently.

York – a Drama Desk and IRNE Award winner who made her Broadway debut as Fantine in “Les Miserables” – is a big fan of the man who at one time directed all of Reagle’s productions.

“Bob is a true educator and theater aficionado. So many talented young people have been given their starts at Reagle and learned all facets of the craft by working alongside experienced professionals,” she says.

Broadway veteran and former Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus clown James Darrah, who played Ambrose Kemper in the 1995 revival of “Hello, Dolly!” starring Carol Channing, got his first exposure to show business while growing up in Waltham.

“My twin sister Margaret and I played munchkins in ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ during Reagle Players’ second season, and my brother Bill and my sisters Florence and Trudy were in the chorus of the show. We were all in many Reagle shows after that,” recalled Darrah by telephone recently from his home in New York.

It wasn’t just Darrah’s sisters and brother who got in on the act, either.

“My father built the original sandwich boards advertising Reagle on the streets of Waltham. And, in addition to making sure we all got fed on show days, my mom would get all her friends to buy tickets to the shows,” he recalled.

Darrah, who now works as a producer for the New York-based Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, said it was at Reagle that he first discovered his love for theater.

“In that second season, my parents took my sister Margaret and me to see ‘Oklahoma!’ because our other siblings were in the show. The production was exceptional. I was 9, but watching the show I knew it was what I wanted to do with my life,” explained Darrah.

When Darrah returned to Reagle last summer to play Billy Lawlor in “42nd Street,” he had not only family but old friends looking on.

“I see every single performance we do,” said Eagle. “I often stand at the back and watch as the audience takes their seats. I know they’ve come because they want to be here and they’re ready to be entertained.”

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston’s 50th Anniversary Season

“A Chorus Line,” June 7–17; “Anything Goes,” July 5–15; and “The Music Man,” August 2–12.

WHERE: Robinson Theatre, 617 Lexington St., Waltham

TICKETS: $39-$66

INFO: 781-891-5600; reaglemusictheatre.com

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